Gwyn ap Nudd

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In Welsh mythology, Gwyn or Gwynn ap Nudd (/ˈgwɨn ap ˈnɨːð/) was the ruler of Annwn (the Underworld). He escorted the souls of the dead there, and led a pack of supernatural hounds, Cŵn Annwn (see also Wild Hunt).

In the early Arthurian story Culhwch and Olwen, he abducted a maiden called Creiddylad after she eloped with Gwythr ap Greidawl, Gwyn's long-time rival. Gwyn and Gwythr's fight, which began on May Day, represented the contest between summer and winter. He helped Culhwch hunt the boar Twrch Trwyth.^[1] In later legends Gwyn is king of the tylwyth teg or "fair folk".

Gwyn means "fair, bright, white" and is cognate with Irish fionn.^[2] His father, Nudd, is related to the Celtic deity Nodens.^[3] The Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhail, whose grandfather was Nuada, is probably related to this figure.

[edit] Etymology

Gwyn is derived from Proto-Celtic *windos meaning "white".^[2] Following accepted sound laws elucidating systematic diachronic phonological sound change in Celtic proto-linguistics,^[4] the Romano-British form of this Proto-Celtic name would have been *Vindos.

[edit] References

^ Culhwch ac Olwen, translated by Lady Charlotte Guest and sub-edited by Mary Jones.
^ ^a ^b Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales. "Proto-Celtic—English lexicon." (See also this page for background and disclaimers.)
^ J. R. R. Tolkien. 1932. "Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London" (quoted here).
^ Cf. "Historical syntax" (forthcoming). Cf. also "Celtic languages" [1] from Encyclopædia Britannica.